Boys Basketball: Wayne Hills comes up big in time of sorrow

PULLING THROUGH - Scott Wills, right, and the Wayne Hills boys' basketball team rolled past visiting Lakeland last Thursday night in a game that was dedicated in honor of late assistant coach Jon "Goldy" Goldstein, who suddenly died last Tuesday night.

Wayne Hills comes up big in time of sorrow

WAYNE - Kevin Grimes called it a week like none other. And Grimes, Wayne Hills' first-year head boys' basketball coach, prefaced that by saying "I hope we never see it again."

That was the general feeling among the Patriots, following a week when the team won two of three, remained in first place in the Big North Conference and improved to 10-6 overall. While the team played very well in wins over Lakeland, 84-62, and West Milford, 65-62, the week was clearly overshadowed by the death of long-time assistant coach Jon "Goldy" Goldstein.

Wayne Hills played Bergen Catholic yesterday in Oradell where they lost, 93-43 and will be home Thursday night to face crosstown Wayne Valley in a key Big North contest. On Saturday, the Patriots host Lakeland in the first round of the Passaic County Tournament starting at 1 p.m.

Goldstein's passing occurred on Jan. 28, shortly after the Patriots dropped its first league game at Fair Lawn, 63-56. Goldstein had coached the JV game, as usual, but became ill shortly after the contest, which was played after the varsity game. Grimes had stayed with Goldstein and accompanied him to the hospital. News of Goldstein's death spread quickly on Twitter and other social media, but Grimes, with the help of team captain Scott Wills, was able to meet with his players at a local diner late on Jan. 28.

"When we had found out, I felt it was important to get the team together," Wills told The Wayne Today last week. "We all met at the diner around 11 p.m. and coach Grimes joined us there. We talked for a while, cried and laughed. We needed to be together and talk about a man who we all cared about very much."

Grimes felt the meeting served as the first in the long process of healing.

"We must have been there for about two hours, just talking," Grimes said. "I told the kids that we didn't have to play (last) Thursday, or Saturday. We could reschedule, or forfeit. It didn't matter. I didn't want them to feel any additional pressure. They all agreed that we should play. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect (in last Thursday's sold out contest against Lakeland). We hadn't prepared for Lakeland, other than practicing yesterday and getting some time on the court, which was important. The kids felt Goldy would want us to play and I agreed with that."

The Wayne Hills community worked quickly to make last Thursday's game much more than a regular-season conference matchup. Free tee shirts were handed out to the fans, with the name Goldy and the 'W' Goldstein cherished, printed on the back. The players wore Goldstein's initials, printed in gold, on their jerseys while the coaching staff had JG in gold printed on their sweaters. Long-time friends and family attended the game, including Goldstein's immediate family. A moment of silence was observed prior to the tipoff.

During an outstanding live version of the National Anthem, sung by Wayne Hills graduate Demi Staluppi, a number of Wayne Hills players, who draped their arms around one another, were visibly emotional. The crowd, some of whom stood along the side of the walls since the stands were completely full, was also touched by the scene. Once the game started, however, the Patriots were on a mission and dominated the game against Lakeland.

"It was hard to gauge, but once the kids got on the court, it was time to play," Grimes said. "It was the release of a lot of energy. Kids are resilient. They loved Goldy, but they also wanted to honor him by playing well. They certainly did that."

Wayne Hills lead, 23-13 after one quarter and extended the lead to 38-22 by intermission. The Patriots never looked back over the final 16 minutes, en route to a 22 point win.

The fans began to chant 'We Love Goldy' in the final 35 seconds of the contest.

Dorian Hodge, a sophomore guard, had a marvelous game, scoring 25 points to lead all scorers. Wills, a senior point guard, had 17, while Erik Martinez finished with 16. David Torres scored seven, Martin Kilroy had six, Kyle Hogan scored five, Joey Kenny finished with four points and Dan Rim and Jeremy Paterson had two each. Anthony Kenny played another tremendous game on defense.

Martinez, a senior and state-record holder for consecutive point-after kicks while playing football at Wayne Hills, remembered his coach, mentor and friend, in Goldstein.

"Goldie was the first to give me my nickname of 'E-Mart'," Martinez recalled. "It was before my freshman year, getting ready for football. He was my basketball coach, too. He's been a part of my life for a long time."

Last Saturday afternoon, a day after Goldstein's funeral, the Patriots were back in action, at home, against West Milford, for a big conference matchup. First place was on the line, as the Patriots and Highlanders both had one loss in the Big North Conference play.

"Again, I had no idea, especially after the funeral a day earlier, how the kids would respond," Grimes said. "It was a long week, already, and now we had to play an outstanding team in West Milford. But I give them all the credit. They played great."

Forward Joey Kenny scored a career high 20 points against West Milford. When he wasn't dominating the boards, the 6-foot-2 sophomore was creating havoc on defense.

"It was Joey's best game of the season, so far," Grimes said. "He was all over the place. I've said it all along that Joey and Martin (Kilroy) are doing an unbelievable job on the boards. They may only be 6'2", or so, but they both play like 7 footers."

Wills had 16 points for the Patriots and drained a crucial 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter which gave Wayne Hills the lead for good.